Z THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



numbers, and seven fat Triphaena jinthria taken by mj* boy for the 

 first time caused great joy. Other larvae taken were those of T. 

 janthina, yaenia typlca, Leucania impura, and Boaniiia repandata. 

 Occasional Taeniocanqia (jracilis, Selenia illunaria, and Fanaijra 

 petraria were netted, but Padinobia rubricosa and Larentia ))}ultistri- 

 (jaria — two of the old time species — have apparently gone for ever. 



Really there is quite a considerable amount of interesting work to 

 be done almost in London itself. In my own garden (five miles from 

 Charing Cross) we have been collecting assiduously, and the number 

 and interest of the species taken is quite remarkable, especially for a 

 boy beginner. There are plenty of large species, such as Amorpha 

 populi, Mimas tiliae, and CofisHslij/niperda, which last abounds in an ash 

 tree and pupates in the rotten part of a neighbouring fence, Zenzera 

 aescitli, I'halera bitcephala, and Catocala nnpta (in numbers), and the 

 violent wriggling of a full-fed larva of the latter species caused great 

 amusement to its finder, the third, and by no means the least ardent 

 entomologist of the family, aged just five. The butterfly of the year 

 in the garden has undoubtedly been Celastrina (Cyaniris) anjiolna — 

 both broods plentiful. In fact, in July, it was no uncommon thing 

 to see several at once over an ivy covered fence, which ivy affords the 

 principal beating in the garden, and I may say gets fairly well worked 

 — perhaps twenty times a day on an average. This ivy and the fences 

 produce wonderful things, and I generally have an array of full boxes 

 awaiting my inspection when I arrive home in the evening. 



Among the captures of the year in this way and at light, the 

 following are the most interesting for such a locality : — Aef/eria (Seiiia) 

 myopaeformis, Myelophila cribnoit, yola ciiciillatella, Bryo/ihila perla, 

 EuDiielina {Pteyuplwrus) monodactyla, Platyptilia gonodactyla, Hypena 

 rostralis, Pyralis contalis, Eapithecia exiynata, K. af<si)inllata, E. sub- 

 fulvata, E. oblongata (ce?itaiireata), E. haworthiata (isogratnmata), E. 

 fraxinata, E. rectanyulata (black vars.), Metrocampa maryaritaria, 

 lodis lactearia, Crocallis elinynaria, Habrostola triplasia, Dipteryyia 

 pinastri, Axylia putris, Apatela aceris, AmpJiidasis betularia var. 

 doubledayaria and intermediates, Hemerophila abrnptaria and 

 chocolate var., and many others. Mania waura has this year turned 

 up in numbers. Every evening in late July they flew round commonly 

 at dusk and were found in sheds, in the house, and on fences, and 

 several butterflies have re-appeared after many j^ears' absence, notably 

 Epinephele jurtina [janira) and Etichloe cardamines. 



In August larvae of EJiipitliecia assiiiiilata and Habrostola triplasia 

 ate some ornamental hops to shreds, and, of course, Oryyia antiqua 

 larvae have been in evidence. An interesting sembling experience 

 with this last species occurred in September. I had been breeding a 

 fresh series in a sleeve, and thought all the pupae were removed. One, 

 however, which remained proved to be a female. Its presence was 

 indicated by a swarm of males in the garden, round the old sleeve, 

 and these continued in great numbers for two whole days. They 

 appeared fairly early in the morning and continued until nearly sunset 

 practically without any interval. The children netted and boxed great 

 numbers (which were afterwards liberated), but still the supply con- 

 tinued undiminished, until on the third day a male also emerging 

 inside the sleeve : the attraction ceased. The only parallel in point of 

 numbers I have seen, was in the case of a $ A. betularia, three years 



